Written Answers Monday 22 November 2010

Scottish Executive

Asylum Seekers

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to hold discussions with the UK Border Agency regarding the ending of its contract with Glasgow City Council for asylum seekers in light of the impact on services in Glasgow.

Alex Neil: The ending of the contract is a matter between the UK Border Agency and Glasgow City Council. However, the Scottish Government is clear that asylum seekers dispersed to Scotland are treated fairly and humanely and whilst they are in Scotland must be welcomed and supported.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will develop care hubs so that independent and voluntary sector care homes for older people can also provide (a) day care, (b) assessment and rehabilitation, (c) respite and crisis care, (d) meals and laundry, (e) podiatry and (f) support for self-help and mutual care services.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how independent and voluntary sector care homes will be used to provide community, respite and day-care support.

Shona Robison: The Reshaping Care for Older People programme has highlighted that the way care services for older people are currently provided, at times, acts against our agreed policy objective of optimising the independence and wellbeing of older people, for as long as possible, in their own homes or another homely setting.

  Scotland’s Spending Plans and the Draft Scottish Budget 2011-12, published on 17 November 2010, set out our plans for a Change Fund for older people’s services. This fund will provide bridging funding to enable local health and social care partnerships to introduce innovation and improvements throughout older people’s services, across health and social care.

  The change fund will encourage a greater degree of integrated commissioning and will act as a catalyst for significant changes in service planning and provision including a much more innovative use of care home capacity, such as the care hub model as set out in Scottish Care’s manifesto for the future of care.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) announced and (b) unannounced Care Commission visits to care homes for older people are planned in the next year.

Shona Robison: The Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 requires the Care Commission to inspect care homes a minimum   of twice a year, with at least one of those inspections being unannounced. Information about announced and unannounced inspections is an operational matter for the Care Commission and the member can contact the Chief Executive, Mrs Jacquie Roberts OBE at:

  The Care Commission Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY Tel: 01382 207 100

  From 1 April 2011 the regulatory functions of the Care Commission, apart from those relating to independent healthcare, will be transferred to Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS), which was established by the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. All inspections carried out by SCSWIS in 2011-12 will be proportionate and based on consideration of the risks to service quality and vulnerable people. SCSWIS’s inspection plans will be shaped by the budget to be agreed by the Parliament early in 2011.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what fee is paid to the Care Commission by a care home for older people with (a) 20, (b) 30, (c) 50 and (d) 60 beds.

Shona Robison: Under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 (the Act) Scottish Ministers are responsible for setting the maximum regulatory fees which may be charged per year by the Care Commission. It is for the commission to fix fee levels within these maxima, having regard to its reasonable expenses in carrying out its functions under the Act.

  The current maximum fee for care home services, as set out in the Regulation of Care (Fees) (Scotland) Order 2005, is £165 per place. In 2010-11 the Commission has set fees at that amount. For care homes of the sizes indicated the fees are:

  (a) for 20 places, £3,300;

  (b) for 30 places, £4,950;

  (c) for 50 places, £8,250; and

  (d) for 60 places, £9,900.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what advances have been made in adult care homes as a result of the publication in May 2006 of Making good care better .

Nicola Sturgeon: Considerable progress has been made in recent years to raise standards of care, in particular through Making good care better: National practice statements for general palliative care in adult care homes in Scotland which was published by the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care and the then Scottish Executive in May 2006. The Care Commission paid particular attention to this aspect of care in its inspection activities during year 2007-2008 together with the National Care Standards for care homes for older people. These set out the standards of care that service users should expect from care homes.

  The Care Commission’s subsequent report, Better Care Every Step of the Way, highlights both the good practice achieved and what has still to be done to achieve a uniformly high standard of palliative and end of life care in care homes throughout Scotland. The report makes a series of recommendations for bringing this about.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether independent and voluntary sector care homes for older people could be used instead of emergency hospital admissions for non-specialist assessment, intervention and care.

Shona Robison: Independent and voluntary sector care homes, able to provide nursing care, can be used for the non-specialist assessment, intervention and care of older people. Some NHS board areas currently commission care homes places for this purpose in the absence of community hospitals, with the direct involvement of GPs in the homes. However, the direct referral from an emergency situation, or accident and emergency attendance, to a care home may be more difficult to achieve.

  Work has also recently started on the development of an intermediate care framework which aims to provide guidance on the local development of intermediate care, and ensure consistency of service delivery across Scotland. The care home sector will play an important part in the development of this policy.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether independent and voluntary sector care homes for older people could be used for continuing care and rehabilitation of older patients rather than hospital places.

Shona Robison: Independent and voluntary sector care homes are currently being used for the continuing care and rehabilitation of older people. The Scottish Government is keen to continue to shift the focus of care from a hospital setting to one where care is planned, delivered and evaluated close to people’s homes, when this is the most appropriate option.

  The Better Health Better Care Action Plan (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/11103453/0) and the Shifting the Balance of Care agenda both encourage this change in the focus and setting of care.

  The Delivery Framework for Adult Rehabilitation in Scotland (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/adultrehabilitation/rehabframework) also recognises that services should be provided locally, with a strong community focus. Rehabilitation teams are already working within a diverse range of settings, including care homes, people’s homes, sheltered housing, community centres and leisure services accommodation.

  Data on the number of people receiving NHS continuing healthcare, and the settings it is provided in, has been collected since September 2008. The most recent data from March 2010 was published in June 2010. This census identified that 448 patients were receiving NHS continuing healthcare in a care home setting.

  Full details from the fourth balance of care/continuing care census can be found on the NHS Information Services Division website at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5910.html.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to reduce the time taken to access an appropriate care package for older people in (a) the community and (b) a residential care home.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government and COSLA issued joint guidance on National Eligibility Criteria for Social Care Services for Older People and Waiting Times for Personal and Nursing Care on 28 September 2009. The guidance is intended to help achieve better outcomes for older people. It delivers a standard eligibility framework for older people which is applied by all local authorities.

  It also delivers a commitment to provide personal and nursing care services to older people within a maximum period of six weeks following the identification of need, where an individual is identified as being at critical or substantial risk as regards their independent living or wellbeing. Where an individual’s needs have been assessed as being less than at critical or substantial risk the local authority should have arrangements in place to meet, manage or review that individual's needs.

  The target of a maximum period of six weeks is also in line with the local authority and NHS partnerships’ standard of having no patients delayed in hospital for longer than six weeks.

  The delayed discharge target is monitored and published on a quarterly basis, and the most recent report can be accessed at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/6209.html.

  Data collection is under development with local authorities on a quarterly return on the target waiting time for service delivery for free personal and nursing care, and will be published in due course.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will assist GPs to refer older people to care homes as well as hospitals when considered appropriate to meet patient needs.

Shona Robison: Evidence from the Reshaping Care programme, and from elsewhere in the UK and wider afield, demonstrates that better outcomes for people, including older people, coupled with better use of resources and a better experience of care, can all flow when services are planned and delivered in an effectively integrated way between GPs, hospitals and community based health and social care teams.

  The role of GPs in accessing an appropriate range of referral options is significant in achieving better outcomes for individuals. That is why the Scottish Government is working with partners in NHS Scotland and local government to improve their understanding and use of resources across all of older people’s services.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many older people in care homes are cared for by (a) local authorities and (b) the independent and voluntary sector.

Shona Robison: At March 2010 there were 4,610 residents in care homes for older people which are run by local authorities and 29,331 residents in private and voluntary sector care homes for older people.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider piloting telehealth links with care homes for older people to help monitor older people in the community.

Shona Robison: In response to a request for proposals supporting the management of long term conditions NHS Shetland has proposed a telehealth solution including links to care homes. Decisions on the funding of long-term conditions bids will be made before the end of the calendar year. Telecare is already used in a number of areas across Scotland to support older people living within care homes and avoid unnecessary admission to hospital.

Central Heating

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the numbers of successful and unsuccessful applications to the boiler scrappage scheme for private landlords are recorded and broken down by local authority.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the number of boilers installed under the boiler scrappage scheme for private landlords is recorded and broken down by local authority.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the number of boilers proposed in unsuccessful applications to the boiler scrappage scheme for private landlords is recorded and broken down by local authority.

Alex Neil: The number of successful and unsuccessful applications, and boilers installed, to the private sector landlords boiler scrappage scheme will be recorded and broken down by local authority.

Central Heating

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how long the boiler scrappage scheme for private landlords will be open for applications.

Alex Neil: The private sector landlord boiler scrappage scheme will operate on a first come, first served basis until its vouchers have been fully allocated and will be open to those private landlords who can claim their voucher rebate by 28 February 2011.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Creative Scotland will introduce a grant enabling artists to reclaim the cost, up to a maximum of £15,000, of tax paid on work that they have sold.

Fiona Hyslop: While Scottish Ministers believe that the tax system should include tax breaks and incentives for artists, that is a matter for the UK Government. The range of types of financial support that Creative Scotland might introduce in the future for artists and creative practitioners is a matter for Creative Scotland and should be addressed to its chief executive.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding models for the creative sector Creative Scotland has examined.

Fiona Hyslop: Creative Scotland is currently developing its first corporate plan which will be published in the first quarter of 2011. As part of this process it is considering a range of funding mechanisms including grants, loans and profit and equity shares in a national and international context. Research will inform this work.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been reinvested in the creative sector from Scottish Government profits from a stake in artists’ work.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has no mechanisms in place to profit directly from artists’ work.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken research into film tax incentives or explored the operation of such schemes in Ireland, Canada and the United States of America.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not undertaken research into film tax incentives. In April 2009, the then Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, Michael Russell MSP, visited Canada where he met with the Mayor of Toronto, Ontario’s Minister for Culture and various officials. During these meetings he discussed the range of tax incentive schemes that operate successfully in Canada.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in embedding cultural strategies in the local community planning process.

Fiona Hyslop: Local authorities have a duty, supported by an Act of Parliament, to ensure adequate provision of culture in their area. The Scottish Government, working closely with local government, cultural organisations and others with an interest, aspires to help community planning partnerships to identify ways for culture to help deliver community wellbeing in their Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs).

  However, it is of course a matter for the community planning partnerships themselves to decide the content of their plans, how these link to the strategic SOAs, and which approaches may be thought most appropriate for delivering specific local priorities.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with BBC Scotland or other parties since May 2007 regarding the future availability of BBC Alba on Freeview.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has frequently raised the availability of BBC Alba on Freeview in meetings with BBC Scotland and the BBC Trust since May 2007. In particular, the Scottish Government has formally made clear its view that BBC Alba should be available on Freeview in the following meetings and pieces of correspondence:

  A letter from the First Minister to Sir Michael Lyons, the Chair of the BBC Trust, on 28 October 2010;

  A letter from me to Sir Michael Lyons on 16 April 2010, following the BBC Trust’s announcement that it would delay taking a decision on whether to place BBC Alba on Freeview until later in 2010;

  A letter from me to Sir Michael Lyons on 16 February 2010, following the Parliamentary debate on BBC Alba on 11 February 2010;

  The Scottish Government’s response to the BBC Trust’s consultation on whether BBC Alba should be placed on Freeview. This response, which was issued on 14 January 2010, can be found on the Scottish Government’s website at:

  http://scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ArtsCultureSport/arts/Broadcasting/Broadcasting

  A letter from the First Minister to Sir Michael Lyons, the Chair of the BBC Trust, on 17 December 2008.

  Meetings with BBC Scotland where the availability of BBC Alba on Freeview has been raised include my meeting with Ken MacQuarrie, Controller of BBC Scotland, on 26 January 2010 and the then Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, Michael Russell MSP’s, meeting with Ken MacQuarrie on 16 March 2009.

Energy

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how much opencast coal has been produced in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Mather: The information requested is published by The Coal Authority and can found at:

  http://www.coal.gov.uk/publications/miningtechnology/index.cfm.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it determined the target to reduce Scottish final energy consumption by 12% by 2020, as set out in Conserve and Save: A Consultation on the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland .

Jim Mather: The responses to the Conserve and Save consultation identified that a consumption based target was preferred to a target based upon both energy efficiency and consumption combined or a target based upon energy efficiency savings in isolation.

  The challenging 12% target level is based upon our estimates of the impact of our comprehensive package of policies and proposals between now and 2020. The Report on Policies and Proposals, which was published on 17 November 2010, sets out those actions in fuller detail.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the target to reduce Scottish final energy consumption by 12% by 2020 from the average 2005 to 2007 consumption levels, as set out in Conserve and Save: A Consultation on the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland, relates to the EU target of reducing energy consumption by 20% against a business-as-usual scenario through increased efficiency by 2020.

Jim Mather: The question compares two metrics which are not in fact comparable.

  The EU target relates to a reduction of "20% of annual consumption of primary energy by 2020 (compared to the energy consumption forecasts for 2020)". Those 2020 forecasts are actually based upon an estimated increase on the 2005 baseline, i.e. the absolute reduction in the EU target is significantly lower than 20%. The target is voluntary and not legally binding.

  Primary energy consumption is defined as the consumption of energy used in the same form as in its naturally occurring state, for example crude oil, coal, natural gas, e.g. before it is converted into electricity.

  The Scottish Government target relates to an absolute 12% reduction in annual total final energy consumption when compared with the 2005-07 baseline with annual decreasing maximum limits set down in statute.

  Both metrics are equally valid with the difference between the two being that the process of converting primary energy into final energy in itself leads to the consumption of energy.

  The Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland sets the framework for the Scottish Government’s comprehensive approach to energy efficiency and microgeneration. The plan covers the areas of behaviour change; household, business and public sector energy efficiency; infrastructure; transport; skills; and international engagement.

  In this situation, final energy consumption is a more appropriate metric.

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what final energy consumption figure for Scotland was assumed for 2020 under a business-as-usual scenario in determining the target to reduce Scottish final energy consumption by 12% by 2020, as set out in Conserve and Save: A Consultation on the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland .

Jim Mather: The Energy Efficiency Action Plan emphasises the importance of energy efficiency measures and behavioural change in delivering the energy consumption and ultimately emission reduction targets.

  The energy efficiency target was set and will be reported against using the sub-national final energy consumption data published annually by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

  There is a limited historic time series available for this regional data with the energy consumption statistics for Scotland only available from 2005-07. The lack of a historic time series means that any robust business as usual projection would largely be based upon the average over this period. In essence, the methodology adopted is equivalent to assuming reductions against a business as usual scenario.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the rise in carbon emissions from transport since 1990 as reported in Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2008, what action it is taking to make journeys greener.

Stewart Stevenson: The Climate Change Delivery Plan published in 2009 suggests that emissions from transport should reduce by 27% by 2020 if the overall target of a 42% emissions reduction over this period is to be met. It highlights the need for complete decarbonisation of road transport through the widespread uptake of low carbon vehicles, and for significant decarbonisation of rail transport, by 2050.

  A programme of transport emission reduction measures is being considered by ministers for inclusion in the statutory report on Proposals and Policies for meeting Scotland’s ambitious climate change targets. This report is being prepared in the context of the development of the draft Scottish budget. It is intended that these documents be published in November 2010.

  In the meantime, Conserve and Save, the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Action Plan, published in October 2010 sets out a number of key actions required to reduce transport energy consumption by (a) reducing the need to travel (b) widening travel choices to include more sustainable transport options and (c) efficiencies in driving and in the transport network.

  An action plan to deliver the widespread uptake of low carbon vehicles envisaged in the Climate Change Delivery Plan will be published later this year. For 2010-11, Transport Scotland has committed £4.3 million to support Community Planning Partnership procurement of low carbon vehicles, and for the provision of supportive infrastructure. Bus operators are also benefiting from the Scottish Green Bus Fund, which is providing £4.4 million in the current financial year to assist the purchase of low carbon buses. In addition, Transport Scotland and a range of public and private sector partners have submitted a joint bid under the UK Government funded Plugged-in Places electric vehicle infrastructure scheme. If successful, this proposal will see a critical mass of infrastructure placed throughout central and southern Scotland by 2013.

  The Cycling Action Plan for Scotland published earlier this year sets the framework for a tenfold increase by 2020 in the number of journeys that are made by bicycle. Total funding in support of cycling in Scotland in 2010-11 is £17.3 million. The £15 million Smarter Choices Smarter Places joint programme with COSLA supports sustainable travel demonstration projects in seven communities across Scotland i.e. Kirkwall, Dundee, Larbert and Stenhousemuir, Kirkintilloch and Lenzie, Glasgow East End, Barrhead and Dumfries.

  We are also working to reduce emissions from the movement of goods. The latest report of the Freight Best Practice Scotland programme suggests savings of 33,173 tonnes of CO2 emissions and nearly £14 million for operators in 2009-10.

  The following is a corrected answer (published on 22 November 2010); see below.

Stewart Stevenson: The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 created a statutory framework for greenhouse gas emissions reductions in Scotland by setting an interim 42% reduction target for 2020 and an 80% reduction target for 2050.

  The draft report on Proposals and Policies published on 17 November 2010 (laying number SG/2010/251) sets out our proposals and policies for meeting the targets to 2022, and thus making the transition to a low carbon economy. A copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52063). A final report will be published following a 60-day period for parliamentary consideration, as required by the Climate Change Act.

  The transport measures identified in the draft report fall into three broad categories:

  reducing the need to travel;

  widening travel choices to encourage lower carbon options; and

  encouraging more energy efficient driving.

  Conserve and Save, our Energy Efficiency Action Plan, published on 6 October 2010 also identified a number of actions to reduce transport energy consumption. A copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51884).

European Commission

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made toward improving direct contact with the European Commission, as stated in the 2007 SNP manifesto.

Fiona Hyslop: This administration has established strong and productive relations with key European Commissioners and their services. The Scottish Government’s Action Plan on European Engagement and Annual Report  ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/International-Relations/Europe/EuropeanStrategy ) set out the progress Scottish Government has made and the real outcomes of engagement.

  Since May 2007 the First Minister, cabinet secretaries and ministers have held frequent meetings with European Commissioners and MEPs in Brussels and in Scotland. As an indication of the level of engagement in the last 12 months, Ministerial attendance at EU Council of Ministers and meetings with Commissioners are as follows. Discussions have focussed on issues of particular importance to Scotland, including the priorities set out in the European Action Plan.

  Scottish ministers taking part in EU Council meetings:

  Scottish ministers attended eight AgriFish, four Environment, two Justice and Home Affairs and two Education, Youth and Culture (EYC) Councils. I led the UK delegation at the informal Culture Council on 30 to 31 March 2010 and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning used Gaelic for the first time ever in the EU institutions at the EYC Council in May 2010. This marked the Scottish Government’s achievement of obtaining co-official status in the EU for the Gaelic language.

  Scottish ministers engaging with EU Commissioners:

  November 2010: The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment intends to meet Commissioner Dalli (Health and Consumer Policy) during his visit on 19 November 2010.

  September 2010: Commissioners Damanaki and Hahn (Maritime and Regional Policy respectively) were both in Scotland to attend the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) meeting in Aberdeen. The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change met the commissioners to discuss current issues including fisheries, structural funds and cohesion. I met Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou to discuss the follow up to the Culture and Creative Industries green paper and the new Youth on the Move initiative. I also met Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva to discuss EU coordination of crisis response.

  September 2010: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth had discussions in Brussels with Michel Barnier, Internal Market and Services Commissioner.

  June 2010: The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment had discussions in Edinburgh with Dacian Ciolos, Agriculture Commissioner.

  March 2010: The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, had discussions in Brussels with Maria Damanaki, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner.

  December 2009: The First Minister and I had discussions with Commission President Barroso and with Andris Piebalgs, Energy Commissioner, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, Flemish Minister-President Kris Peeters and Commissioner Kroes.

  November 2009: The First Minister and Andris Piebalgs, Energy Commissioner participated together at the Connecting Europe 2009 Conference in Edinburgh to support the development of a pan-European electricity grid.

  The Scottish Government has responded directly to a range of key Commission consultations ensuring the Scottish position has been clearly set out in relation to issues including the EU Budget Review, EU Energy network and territorial cohesion.

  Additionally, EU activity is supported by frequent direct contact between officials from the Scottish Government and the Commission.

European Funding

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for applications for funding from the European Union for the proposed European Year of Active Ageing 2012.

Shona Robison: The European Commission proposal does not suggest that any funding will be available.

European Funding

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what applications it has made for available funding for the proposed European Year of Active Ageing 2012.

Shona Robison: No applications have been made for funding. The European Commission proposal does not suggest that any funding will be available.

European Funding

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what approaches it has made to the European Union under the European Economic Recovery Plan to draw down additional structural funds for Moray.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not approached the European Commission for additional structural funds for Moray. Successful bids have been made for funds available through the European Economic Recovery Plan for use elsewhere in Scotland. Funds are still available from the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund to support projects across Scotland, so projects to support business or individuals in Moray that are eligible may apply for support.

  However, the immediate priority of the Moray Task Force and the Scottish Government is to present a strong argument to the UK Government as to why the RAF presence should be retained in Moray. The Scottish Government has made it clear it will do all that it can to support the community in Moray but we will also continue to press the UK Government to recognise its responsibilities.

Firearms

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under 18 have been granted a shotgun licence in each local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by age.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.

Gaelic

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made toward the target of ensuring that the proportion of Gaelic speakers is back to at least 2001 levels by the 2021 census.

Fiona Hyslop: Our consistent focus has been on the need to increase Gaelic speaker numbers in order to ensure a secure future for Gaelic in Scotland. In order to make progress with this aim we asked Bòrd na Gàidhlig to prepare an action plan that places the emphasis clearly on initiatives that have the potential to increase the numbers of speakers. The commitments in that action plan are now being delivered.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS distinction awards were made in the last five years to consultants who were (a) 60 and over and (b) 56 to 59.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is as follows:

  New Distinction Awards Broken Down by Age

  

Age Group
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Total


56 to 59
14
19
11
5
8
62


60 and Over
0
4
4
2
6
15


Total
14
23
15
7
14
77



  Further information relating to the distinction awards can be found in the Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards (SACDA) annual reports at:

  www.shsc.scot.nhs.uk/shsc/default.asp?p=71.

  I announced on 16 November 2010 my decision to freeze the distinction awards scheme for 2011-12. That means no new or recycled awards will be made in 2011-12.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) females and (b) males have myasthenia gravis.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information is not held centrally in the format requested. From a representative sample of Scottish general practices, it is estimated that between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2009, 560 females and 480 males consulted a member of the practice team for myasthenia gravis.

  We are aware that the Myasthenia Gravis Association calculated that in December 2008 there were 445 people in Scotland living with the condition.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 18, (b) 18 to 30, (c) 31 to 40, (d) 41 to 50, (e) 51 to 60 and (f) over 60 have myasthenia gravis.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information is not held centrally in the format requested.

Health

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it requires NHS boards to engage with voluntary sector organisations in meeting the needs of people living with and affected by blood-borne viruses.

Shona Robison: The voluntary sector has a key role in supporting delivery of blood-borne virus services across the NHS. This is recognised explicitly in the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan, which requires that each NHS board has or is affiliated to an Managed Care Network for hepatitis C. These networks comprise representatives of relevant specialists in healthcare and other stakeholder groups. The action plan is clear that these stakeholder groups include the voluntary sector.

Health

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the contribution that the voluntary sector can make in keeping people with blood-borne viruses on their treatment pathway.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the contribution that the voluntary sector makes in assisting people with blood-borne viruses during their treatment.

  The hepatitis C action plan specifically recognises the importance of care and support as part of treatment and that voluntary organisations can play a key part in this work.

Health

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the contribution that the voluntary sector can make in educating the public regarding blood-borne viruses and what funding it provides for this.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does recognise the significant contribution that the voluntary sector can make to educating the public regarding blood-borne viruses.

  Through the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan the Scottish Government has directed £300,000 each year over the last two years towards national voluntary sector organisations. Much of this funding has been utilised to raised awareness amongst the public of hepatitis C, including the delivery of the Mainliners Hepatitis C Resource Centre.

  The Scottish Government worked closely with voluntary sector partners in the development of the HIV Action Plan and input from HIV Scotland, the national umbrella voluntary sector agency for HIV continues. The voluntary sector has, and will continue to have, an important role to play in educating the public through increased awareness of HIV and a reduction in HIV related stigma and discrimination. The Scottish Government funding to HIV voluntary sector organisations will assist them to advance education and understanding of HIV in the public.

Health

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive  what funding is available for voluntary sector organisations that help people with blood-borne viruses.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has provided £300,000 each year over the last two years to support national voluntary sector activity in respect of hepatitis C. This funding, which has been provided to Scottish Drugs Forum, The Hepatitis C Trust and Mainliners, is intended to enable these organisations to deliver specific and national projects which support the Hepatitis C Action Plan. At a local level NHS boards have also been provided with a specific allocation for care and support of those with Hepatitis C and boards are free to invest this in voluntary sector providers if that meets their local needs. Some boards have used the money in this way.

  Similarly, for HIV, the Scottish Government provides funding to support national voluntary sector activity. In this financial year, this comprises £270,000 to HIV Scotland, as the key national umbrella HIV organisation; £50,478 to Waverley Care to promote the welfare and care of people affected by HIV, including working with people from Africa living in Scotland; and £9,000 to support the National AIDS Trust work in Scotland.

Health

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to help people on long-term therapies to treat blood-borne viruses.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has provided significant funding for hepatitis C treatment, care and support services over the last five years. Under the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan, which was launched in 2008, the clinical and non-clinical services (including care and support services through voluntary sector organisations) that are available to those on long term treatment have increased significantly.

  The HIV Action Plan, published in 2009, aims to support people living with HIV through improved and co-ordinated treatment and care services. This includes the development of NHS QIS HIV Services Standards to ensure quality of HIV services throughout Scotland. Voluntary sector agencies have been fully involved in this process.

Health

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to people who have completed their treatment for blood-borne viruses.

Shona Robison: Each NHS board has, or is affiliated to, a managed care network (MCN) for hepatitis C. MCNs locally are required to develop care pathways for individuals affected by hepatitis C. The national generic care pathway for hepatitis C, which was developed under Action 3 of the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan, acknowledges post-treatment in the care pathway. This would normally include, for example, follow up with an individual following completion of treatment to assess whether or not there has been a sustained viral response.

  Both hepatitis B and HIV cannot currently be cured and so treatment and engagement with services for both conditions will be life long.

Health

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many distinction award holders there are following the 2010 awards round.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are 578 distinction award holders following the 2010 awards round.

  This is exactly the same number as in 2009 due to my decision earlier this year to freeze the number of distinction awards awarded in 2010. This decision resulted in a saving of £2 million.

  I also announced on 16 November 2010 that I am proposing to extend this freeze in 2011-12. This move will save an additional £2 million which can be reinvested in frontline patient care.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of the Public Health Service community pharmacy contract has been in each of the last three years, also broken down by the costs for (a) smoking cessation and (b) emergency hormone contraception.

Shona Robison: The cost of the Public Health Service (PHS) in the last three financial years was as follows:

  

Year
(a) PHS Smoking  Cessation Remuneration and Gross Ingredient Cost
(b) PHS Emergency Hormonal Contraception Remuneration and Gross Ingredient Cost
Total Cost of PHS Remuneration and Gross Ingredient Cost


2009-10
£7.105 million
£2.254 million
£20.838 million


2008-09
£4.464 million
£1.756 million (includes remuneration for Chlamydia testing/treatment)
£18.389 million


2007-08
N/A*
N/A*
£1.237 million



  *Note: The PHS smoking cessation and emergency hormonal contraception services began in August 2008, therefore there were no associated costs in the 2007-08 financial year.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were given thrombolysis in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, and (c) 2009, also expressed as a percentage of acute stroke patients.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested for 2007 is not available centrally.

  The Scottish Stroke Care Audit 2010 National Report, published on 29 June 2010, indicates that in 2008, 260 (3%) people received thrombolysis and in 2009 the number was 411 (5%). The report is available at the following website:

  http://www.strokeaudit.scot.nhs.uk/Downloads/2010%20report/SSCAReport0610.pdf.

  The percentages given above are calculated from the total number of acute strokes discharged from hospital. These figures include people who had a haemorrhagic stroke and who were therefore not eligible for thrombolytic therapy.

  The NHS Quality Improvement Scotland clinical standard for stroke thrombolysis is a treatment rate of 5 per 100,000 population each year in Scotland. The number of people treated in 2008 equates to 5 per 100,000 population and in 2009 8 per 100,000 population.

Health

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on health-related non-governmental organisations in each year since 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Health

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been employed in health-related non-governmental organisations funded by government resources in each year since 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not centrally available.

Health

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37250 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 November 2010, what the (a) total number of attendances for and (b) estimated cost of echocardiography was in 2008-09.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have received renal dialysis in each of the last 10 years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Renal dialysis can be a suitable treatment for people living with acute kidney injury (acute renal failure) or established renal failure (ERF). Data on the number of people diagnosed with ERF is collected by the Scottish Renal Registry (SRR) and is shown in the following table.

  Table: Number of People 1,2,3 Receiving Dialysis 4 Each Year in Scotland 5 Between 2000 and 2009 6

  

Year
Hospital Haemodialysis
Home Haemodialysis
Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
Automated Peritoneal Dialysis
Total


2000
1,152
52
320
149
1,673


2001
1,237
47
245
160
1,689


2002
1,352
44
228
160
1,784


2003
1,434
44
194
179
1,851


2004
1,480
44
206
181
1,911


2005
1,577
43
205
199
2,024


2006
1,665
37
182
223
2,107


2007
1,752
40
151
226
2,169


2008
1,770
47
116
212
2,145


2009
1,815
52
102
200
2,169



  Notes:

  1. Includes people whose treatment started on or before 31 December of each reported year, and who were still alive and resident in Scotland on that date.

  2. Excludes people who: have been lost through follow up; where the date, renal unit of dialysis and type of dialysis is unknown on or before 31 December of each reported year.

  3. Excludes people who have received renal function within 90 days of receiving renal replacement therapy.

  4. The data do not contain the number of people who have received dialysis for acute renal injury as these are not collected by the SRR.

  5. Includes people who are receiving dialysis for end stage renal failure only.

  6. Excludes people who have moved outside of Scotland on or before 31 December of each reported year.

  7. Data are presented for each calendar year between 2000 and 2009.

  Source: Scottish Renal Registry.

  Ref: IR2010-02825.

Health

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what literature was reviewed in the review of NHS Lothian Community Health Partnership’s provision of homeopathic services.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally.

  NHS boards in Scotland are responsible for providing NHS services in accordance with national and local priorities and in line with the health needs of the population. The planning and provision of NHS services is a matter for NHS boards. NHS boards are expected to take account of relevant evidence based advice and guidance in the delivery of NHS services. The treatment of individual patients is a matter of professional judgement.

Health

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the results of the comparison between homeopathic and conventional treatments commissioned by NHS Tayside.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has not reviewed the comparison between homeopathic and conventional treatments commissioned by NHS Tayside.

  The planning and provision of NHS services is a matter for NHS boards. Decisions regarding which treatments are appropriate for patients, including homeopathy, are taken by NHS boards based on their assessment of needs for their patient population.

  NHS boards are expected to take account of relevant evidence based advice and guidance in the delivery of NHS services. The treatment of individual patients is a matter of professional judgement.

Health

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether members of the public will have the opportunity to speak at the East and Midlothian Community Health Partnership sub-committee public meetings to be held before the end of November 2010.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government fully supports public engagement within Community Health Partnerships (CHPs). CHP regulations make provision for the views of services users, carers, voluntary organisations and interested individuals to be formally represented through local Public Partnership Forums, representatives of which sit on the CHP committee.

  Local arrangements for how NHS board committees conduct their meetings may vary in line with local NHS board standing orders.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the letter, CEL 17 (May 2010), has had in achieving an open, transparent and more uniform system for exceptional needs prescribing and what monitoring is in place to review this.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of allowing NHS boards time to fully develop their policies and put them in place before asking them to demonstrate their effectiveness. NHS boards have been asked to provide written assurance, by 30 December 2010, that substantive progress has been reached in the development of policies about access to newly licensed medicines in accordance with the framework contained in CEL 17 (2010).

  NHS boards have further been asked to confirm that these policies are in place by 1 April 2011.

  In addition, active consideration is being given to monitoring arrangements which will underpin this guidance.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total level of housing debt is of local authorities.

Alex Neil: Information on the level of housing debt in each local authority is published annually in the Local Authority Housing Income and Expenditure  official statistics publication. Data up to 31 March 2010 and estimates as at 31 March 2011 were published on 28 September 2010 and are available online at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/HRA2008-09

  The excel table entitled Outstanding Debt shows the total capital debt on the council’s housing revenue account as at 31 March each year for those authorities which retain housing stock. The table below this also shows a "debt per house" figure based on the number of houses owned by that authority.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much interest is to be paid on the total housing debt of local authorities.

Alex Neil: Information on the level of housing debt and loans charges related to this debt in each local authority is published annually in the Local Authority Housing Income and Expenditure  official statistics publication. Data up to 31 March 2010 and estimates as at 31 March 2011 were published on 28 September 2010 and are available online at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/HRA2008-09

  The excel table entitled Loan charge expenditure shows the total loan charge expenditure from 1997-98 to 2009-10 and estimates for 2010-11 on local authorities’ housing revenue accounts, broken down to show debt redemption, interest and loans fund expenses.

Maritime Issues

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37331 by Richard Lochhead on 11 November 2010, whether it will publish any response that it receives from the UK Government.

Richard Lochhead: I have not yet received a response to my letter of 8 November 2010. It is, however, not Scottish Government policy to publish exchanges of ministerial correspondence with the UK Government, particularly while matters are under active discussion.

Maternity Services

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many babies have been born with congenital myasthenic syndrome in each of the last three years.

Nicola Sturgeon: In the last three years, no babies are recorded in the Scottish Birth Record database as having been born with a diagnosis of congenital myasthenic syndrome.

Maternity Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to parents or caregivers on sharing a bed with an infant.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has been working with the Scottish Cot Death Trust to update the Reduce the risk of cot death leaflet, which will be published early in 2011. A copy of the leaflet is given to all new parents. This leaflet emphasises that a parent should never fall asleep with a baby on a couch or armchair and contains information on avoiding bed sharing if either parent smokes, has recently drunk any alcohol or has taken medication or drugs which would make it difficult for them to respond to their baby.

  We recognise that policies on bed sharing while women are in hospital vary between maternity units. We know that many units including baby friendly hospitals provide additional information to breastfeeding mums such as UNICEF’s leaflet Sharing a bed with your baby – A guide for breastfeeding mothers at:

  www.babyfriendly.org.uk/pdfs/sharingbedleaflet.pdf.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional patients have accessed (a) behavioural activation, (b) cognitive behavioural therapy and (c) interpersonal therapy, since the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Non-pharmaceutical management of depression in adults guideline was published in January 2010.

Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally.

  We are developing an access target for evidence-based psychological therapies for inclusion in HEAT in 2011-12 which will allow us to measure the referral to treatment times for psychological therapies.

NHS Expenditure

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each NHS board has spent on cleaning in each year since 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS Costs Book record cleaning costs for all Territorial boards plus the National Waiting Times Centre and The State Hospital for Scotland. Spend on cleaning (including both pay and supplies) for these boards since 2007 has been:

  

NHS Board
2008-09
2007-08


 
£000
£000


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
8,069
7,596


NHS Borders
4,169
4,082


State Hospital
851
747


National Waiting Times Centre
846
555


NHS Fife
6,155
5,936


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
31,360
28,129


NHS Highland
6,390
6,214


NHS Lanarkshire
8,765
7,465


NHS Grampian
11,959
11,215


NHS Orkney
681
651


NHS Lothian
17,811
16,806


NHS Tayside
9,371
8,342


NHS Forth Valley
6,309
6,085


NHS Western Isles
1,124
908


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
3,326
2,966


NHS Shetland
632
530


Scotland
117,819
108,227



  Figures for 2009-10 will be available at the end of November 2010.

NHS Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of efficiency savings NHS boards will be required to find in 2011-12.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government expects NHS boards to make and retain a minimum of 3% efficiency savings in 2011-12.

NHS Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards will be able to retain the efficiency savings that they generate in 2011-12.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is planned that boards providing direct patient care will be able to retain the efficiency savings which they generate in 2011-12.

NHS Hospitals

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive where meals served to patients at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Yorkhill) are prepared.

Nicola Sturgeon: The majority of meals served to patients at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, are prepared at the Western Infirmary. Yorkhill locally prepares chilled patient and staff meal components and "call-order" children's snack choices, which are alternative options to those offered within the standard menu.

NHS Hospitals

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that meals served to patients at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Yorkhill) are tailored to the specific needs and tastes of children; what analysis has been carried out of the effectiveness of these measures, and what conclusions have been drawn.

Nicola Sturgeon: Arrangements are in place at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Yorkhill) to ensure that all children on admission to hospital who have special dietary requirements are assessed by a dietician. Food suitable for children’s dietary needs is available during working hours, seven days a week and the children are able to select meals once they have seen what is on offer. Rotating menu plans are available so that parents are aware of the choices in advance. A special feeds unit also prepares special feeds and supplements for infants and children with complex nutritional problems where a child’s nutritional needs or requirements are altered by their disease or medical condition.

  Food tasting audits were undertaken in 2009 which focused on children’s views of catering services, including popular choices. Feedback indicates the need for a very flexible catering provision for children given the patient age ranges, eating preferences and, in some cases, highly specialist dietary requirements being catered for. Catering services are continually adapting menu formats on the basis of patient and parent comments and are maintaining ongoing dialogue with patients, parents and carers.

National Health Service

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment of best value has been made of the procurement and development of NHS Inform.

Nicola Sturgeon: In June 2008, the Scottish Government asked NHS24 to take the lead role in co-ordinating the service (including its development and all associated procurement) on behalf of, and in partnership with, NHSScotland.

  In May 2009, a national partnership agreement was drawn up, clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the various partners in taking forward the NHS inform service.

  An evaluation of NHS inform will be carried out during 2011.

National Health Service

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of developing the new maternal and early years website and how much will be spent annually on maintenance of the site.

Shona Robison: The new maternal and early years website was developed by NHS Health Scotland and the cost was met fully through their core funding. The website will be maintained by NHS Health Scotland.

Older People

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had regarding the proposed European Year of Active Ageing 2012.

Shona Robison: We have commented on the proposal via the Department of Health. We understand that the European Parliament and Council are expected to endorse the initiative by early 2011.

  Before these proposals emerged, we were already in discussion with the organisers of the World Congress on Active Ageing, which will be taking place in the SECC in August 2012 and have since been able to agree to support that event. We are also working with the British Heart Foundation on proposals to develop a series of active ageing events to support the 2012 congress and the legacy plan for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Older People

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36938 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, whether it can confirm that there were no meetings with individuals or organisations to discuss the establishment of a commissioner for older people.

Shona Robison: We have had no discussions about the establishment of the office of a Commissioner for older people in Scotland.

Palliative Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether more use could be made of the care home sector to provide more choice to people in need of palliative and end-of-life care.

Nicola Sturgeon: Living and Dying Well , Scotland’s first national action plan for the provision of palliative and end of life care   highlighted the increasing importance of care homes in meeting the palliative and end of life care needs of older people. A multiagency group has been established to ensure the development of arrangements to ensure palliative and end of life care can be provided in care homes where this is appropriate.

Palliative Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether independent and voluntary sector care home staff could be used to provide palliative and end-of-life care in patients’ homes.

Nicola Sturgeon: The provision of palliative and end of life care in a patient’s home is based on the needs of the individual concerned. The composition of the teams providing care will reflect the particular needs of individuals which may change over time. NHS boards, through the implementation of Living and Dying Well , are encouraged to work with their independent and voluntary sector colleagues in order to achieve a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the palliative and end of life needs of patients and their carers. The provision of services by independent and voluntary sector care homes is a matter for the organisation concerned.

People with Dementia

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what total number of patients is recorded in Quality and Outcomes Framework dementia registers in NHS Tayside GP practices.

Ms Nicola Sturgeon: This information is published annually by ISD Scotland. The most recent information relates to the 2009-10 financial year and can be viewed at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/QOF_Scot_200910_HEAT_dem_prevalence.xls.

  The published figures include data from nursing homes etc from NHS Lothian and Greater Glasgow and Clyde which do not participate in the Quality and Outcomes Framework but are part of the current Dementia HEAT targets. This does not affect the figures from NHS Tayside as they do not have these extra components.

Prescriptions

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that community pharmacists have a sufficient supply of medicines from manufacturers to fill prescriptions and whether it is has worked with the Department of Health on this.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government continues to monitor the supply of prescription medicines and is in regular contact about supply issues with the Department of Health, pharmaceutical companies and others, including Community Pharmacy Scotland and NHS National Services Scotland.

  On 13 November 2009 guidance was issued by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and other key organisations entitled Trading Medicines for Human Use: Shortages and Supply Chain Obligations. This guidance, which remains extant, has been drawn to the attention of the NHS in Scotland under cover of a letter from the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer and can be found at:

  http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/publications/DC20091118trading.pdf 

  In Scotland, the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/128) introduced on 1 May 2010 place an obligation upon pharmacists who dispense NHS prescriptions to use all reasonable endeavours to provide prescribed drugs and appliances with reasonable promptness and not to engage in activity which might delay or prevent the dispensing of prescribed drugs and appliances to NHS patients. The amendment regulations also place on pharmacists an obligation to contact the prescriber to discuss alternative arrangements where there is likely to be, in that pharmacist’s opinion, a clinically significant delay to the dispensing of prescribed drugs or appliances. A copy of the amendment regulations can be found on the Office of Public Sector Information website at:

  http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2010/pdf/ssi_20100128_en.pdf.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hours per day on average prisoners carry out (a) work and (b) training or education, broken down by (i) length of sentence and (ii) prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not available in the format required.

Respite Care

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the additional £4 million Scottish Government funding for respite provision Glasgow City Council received in 2009-10 and has received in 2010-11.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government allocated Glasgow City Council an additional £0.165 million in 2009-10 and £0.332 million in 2010-11 for the provision of respite. This, together with allocations to the other local authorities, was on top of the overall local government settlement. The purpose was to enable local authorities to deliver in full by 2010-11 the commitment in the concordat to progress towards delivering 10,000 extra respite weeks.

Respite Care

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what Glasgow City Council’s contribution would be to the 8,950 additional respite weeks identified in paragraph 2.1 of Respite Care, Scotland 2010 based on the local government funding formula.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government provided an extra £4.19 million over two years to local authorities on top of the overall settlement to enable local authorities to deliver in full by 2010-11 the commitment in the concordat to progress towards delivering 10,000 extra respite weeks. Of this extra £4.19 million, the allocation in 2009-10 is £1.370 million, intended to help deliver an increase of 6,000 weeks in that year. Glasgow’s share of this was £0.165 million which would equate to an additional 240 weeks. Both the interim target of 6,000 weeks by 2009-10 and the 2010-11 target of 10,000 weeks are Scotland-wide. These weeks have not been apportioned amongst local authorities. This reflects both the fact that the concordat commitment is Scotland-wide and the different costs associated with different types of respite. It is noted that 24 local authorities contributed positively to the delivery of the additional 8,950 respite weeks recorded in 2009-10.

Respite Care

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what Glasgow City Council's contribution has been to the 8,950 additional respite weeks identified in paragraph 2.1 of Respite Care, Scotland 2010.

Shona Robison: Between 2007-08 and 2009-10, Glasgow City Council’s recorded respite provision decreased by 3,560 weeks.

Scottish Government Agencies

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36778 by John Swinney on 26 October 2010, what the membership is of the Infrastructure Investment Group, broken down by (a) name, (b) job role and (c) employer.

John Swinney: The Infrastructure Investment Group’s membership regularly comprises the following senior representatives from both the Scottish Government and its core agencies, such as Transport Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service; the Scottish Futures Trust and the Scottish Funding Council. Other attendees may also attend meetings when particular policy areas are to be discussed:

  

Name
Job Role
Employer


A Stafford (Chair)
Director General Finance
Scottish Government


J Mason
Director of Business
Scottish Government


C MacLean
Director of Learning
Scottish Government


A Merrill
Director of Procurement
Scottish Government


J Pryce
Director for Improving Public Services
Scottish Government


M Foulis
Director of Housing and Regeneration
Scottish Government


J Mackinnon 
Chief Planner
Scottish Government


Dr A Scott
Director of Lifelong Learning
Scottish Government


J Matheson
Director of Health Finance
Scottish Government


D Wilson
Director of Energy
Scottish Government


K Baker 
Deputy Director, Capital and Risk
Scottish Government


R Macdonald 
Deputy Director, Planning Legislation, Performance, Economy, Engagement and Environmental Assessment
Scottish Government


M Baxter 
Deputy Director, Capital Planning and Asset Management
Scottish Government


D Henderson 
Deputy Director, Local Government
Scottish Government


G Gillespie 
Deputy Director, Office of the Chief Economic Adviser
Scottish Government


G Hendricks 
Head of Efficient Government and Identity Policy
Scottish Government


C Fisher
Head of Centre of Expertise for Programme and Project Management
Scottish Government


I Morrison(Secretariat)
Senior Policy Manager, Capital and Risk
Scottish Government


W Pretswell
Director, Finance and Business Services
Scottish Prison Service


D Middleton
Chief Executive 
Transport Scotland 


A McLaughlin
Director, Major Transport Infrastructure Projects
Transport Scotland


R Bell
Director, Finance and Corporate Services
Scottish Funding Council


P Reekie
Director of Finance and Structures
Scottish Futures Trust



  Names of non Scottish Government participants have only been given where these are already public, for example, in the publication of annual reports.

Scottish Government Funding

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to extend the Climate Challenge Fund.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has decided to extend the Climate Challenge Fund into financial year 2011-12 at the enhanced funding level of £10.3 million. Further details will be announced in due course.

Shipbuilding

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government on behalf of lower Clyde shipyards regarding awarding a contract for the construction of one or more of the Royal Navy’s military afloat reach and sustainability vessels.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government on behalf of Scottish shipbuilding and other manufacturing sectors. Most recently, the First Minister and the Minister for Parliamentary Business wrote to Liam Fox MP, Secretary of State for Defence, outlining Scotland’s capabilities in defence manufacturing prior to the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). The Scottish Government and main Scottish party leaders’ submission sent to the MoD on 23 September 2010 also outlined the importance of the Royal Navy’s military afloat reach and sustainability vessels programme to the UK’s manufacturing and defence capabilities. The First Minister has also separately written to Liam Fox MP since the SDSR seeking clarification on the implications for Scotland.

  The Scottish Government and agencies continue to promote Scottish shipbuilding but we are limited in directly influencing individual procurement contracts as this would contravene EU commercial policy on open procurement.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds have been allocated to tobacco control activities in each of the last four years, broken down by type of activity.

Shona Robison: The following table contains a breakdown of funds allocated to tobacco control activities.

  Tobacco Control Activities – 2007-08 to 2010-11

  

 
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11


 
£
£
£
£


Overall Budget Available
13,545,000
19,996,230
20,358,046
20,295,596


1. Smoking Cessation-Related Activity
9,160,500
12,711,230
13,128,096
13,013,096


2. Voluntary Sector Activity
1,005,112
983,950
983,950
971,500


3. Smoke-Free Laws
2,596,000
2,550,000
2,550,000
2,500,000


4. Smoking Prevention
148,125
3,165,000
3,098,000
3,065,000


5. Tobacco Communications
550,000
521,000
550,000
300,000


6. Surveys
70,000
62,000
33,000
18,000


7. Miscellaneous/Contingency
15,263
3,050
15,000
3,000


8. Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 - Implementation
 
 
 
425,000



  Notes:

  1. Smoking cessation figures do not include the £2 million per annum contained within NHS boards’ unified budgets.

  2. The above figures do include the budget for enforcing the smoke-free legislation and is provided by means of a block grant.